Current-wheel



No. 618,!48. Patented lan. 24, |899. T. J.. VANCE.

l cunnENT wHEEL.

(Appl catxon filed Hay 11, 189B (N0 Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

/ .3,2 In L?! i l Y zj A. uw

Wihjzssas 32 /a// l I l): 1,8 yqllorneys Nn. 6|8,|48. y Patented 1an. 24, |899. T. J. vANcE.

CURRENT WHEEL.

(Application filed luy 11, 1898.)

lll/11111) Ev', D Igcljlon @y Jhlorneys, K

YH: N onms vins co, wow-mun.. WASHINGTON, n. u.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

TIIEODORE JAMES VANCE, OF ROSEBUD, MONTANA.

CURRENT-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 618,148, dated January 24, 1899.

Application filed May 11, 1898.

To @ZZ La7/1,0721, t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, THEODORE JAMES VANCE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rosebud, in the county of Custer and State of Montana, have invented a new and useful Current-XVheel, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in current-wheels for raising Water for irrigatin g and other purposes; and the primary object that I have in viewis to provide an improved structure for raising water to the greatest height possible with a given diameter of the wheel and to deliver the water to the point of discharge with the least possible Waste of energy.

A further object of the invention isto overcome back flow and pressure of the Water which may be partially elevated and con tained in certain parts of the Wheel during the rotation thereof under the influence of the swiftly-moving current acting against the wheel-paddles and also to permit the air to escape from the rim-sections during the operation of illing each rim-section with Water in the rotation of the wheel.

A f-urther object of the invention is to provide for the vertical adjustment of the wheel,

.so as to withdraw it from service in the event of an increase in the Volume of the water in the stream and the floating of heavy drift or ice, and, finally, to simplify the construction with a View to promoting the strength and durability of the parts and insuring efficiency in the operation of the Wheel.

lVith these ends in View the invention cousists in the combination of elements and in the construction, arrangement, and adaptation of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

To enable others to understand the invention, I have illustrated the preferred embodiment thereof in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and in which- Figure 1 is a perspective View of a currentwheel suspended in position for operation. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation in the plane of the radial spokes and sections of the rim on the dotted line 2 2 of Fig. 8. Fig.

Serial No. 680,374.. (No model.)

is a vertical transverse sectional elevation through the Wheel in the plane of the tubular shaft thereof and indicated by the dotted line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view through one of the tubular spokes forming a part of the Wheel structure. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional elevation through one of the rim-sections.

Like numerals of reference denote like and corresponding parts in each of the several ligures of the drawings.

l designates the overhead suspension-beam, which is carried by a suitable framework 2, erected on the bank of a stream and held firmly in place thereon by a suitable founda tion, said frame being braced by the stays 3. The suspension-beam l is designed to overhang the stream, and it is provided with vertical slots 4, that receive the guide sheaves or rollers 5.

The current-wheel of my invention has its shaft journaled in a frame which is supported by a bail 6, that is slidably iitted in the slots of the beam 1 to travel against 'the sheaves or rollers and with this suspensionbail is combined a suitable hoisting-tackle 7, that serves to elevate the bail, and with it the Wheel, so as to Withdraw the Wheel from the current during a freshet and to prevent injury to the wheel by iioating debris or ice.

The Wheel-frame 8 may be of any suitable construction, and it is fitted Within the vertical members of the bail, to which the Wheelframe is rigidly bolted. l

In the drawings I have shown bolts 9 for uniting the wheel-frame and bail together; but it is evident that the ends of the bail may be extended to receive the journals of the Wheel-shaft, thus making the bail serve the purpose of the Wheel-frame.

The lower ends of the wheel-frame are provided With shaft-bearings 10, which aline with each other to receive the journals of the Wheel-shaft ll. This Wheel-shaft is tubular or cylindrical in form and of large diameter, and at its ends said shaft has the tubular journals 12, which are properly mount-ed in the bearings 10 of the Wheel-frame, so as to insure free rotation of the shaft ll in said frame. At a point intermediate of its length IOO the wheel-shaft is constructed with a series of short nipples 13, arranged radially thereto and preferably in the same vertical plane, and these nipples are flanged at their outer extremities to enable them to be properly joined to the radial spokes 15. Any desired number of these radial spokes and of the rimsections 19 may be employed in the construction of my improved current-wheel, and rilnsections 10 are arranged angnlarly, so as to impart a polygonal appearance to the rim of the wheel.

Each radial spoke 15 is hollow, preferably tubular, and at its inner end said spoke is provided with a flange 1G, adapted to register with the flange 1l on the outer extremity of one of the radial nipples 13, said flanges l-land 1G being united rigidly together by the bolts 1S to couple the tubular spoke firmly to the tubular shaft and thus provide for the uninterrupted communication of the hollow spoke with the similar shaft. rlhe outer end of each radial spoke is flanged, as at 17, to enable it to be properly joined with a nipple of one of the rim-sections, a rim-section 19 being combined with each tubular spoke, and said rim-sections being independent of every other rinrsection, so that the rim-sections do not communicate one with the other. Each tubular rim-section 1E) is provided atits ends with the angular flanges 20 21, and these flanges are disposed at acuto angles to the axial line of the rim-section, whereby the series of rim-sections may be properly assembled together and their ends may be united with the radial paddles of the wheel to presenta substantial and durable structure. Each rim-section is provided near one end with a radial nipple 22, which is arranged in alinement with one of the tubular wheel-spokes, and the inner end ot this nipple is flared or enlarged, as at 23, to provide a valve boxing or chamber adapted to contain a checlevalve 26, which prevents back pressure in the spoke, as will presently appear. rlhe inner extremity of the flared en( 23 of the nipple 22, forming a part of each tubular rim-section, is llanged externally, as at 2l, so as to register with the flange 17 on the outer end of one of the tubular wheel-spokes, and the flanges 2l and 17 of the rim-nipple and spoke are joined rigidly together by bolts 25, whereby the tubular rim is adapted to communicate with the tubular spoke to which it maybe united. The flared length of the rim-nipple 22 is provided interiorly with a valve-seat 2U, that accommodates a cheek-valve 20 of any suitable or preferred construction.

The nipple 22 of each rim-seetion is arranged near one end tl1ereof,and near its other end the rim-section is provided with a wateringress port 27, which is formed in the outer face or side ol' the rim-section, and this port is adapted to be closed under certain conditions in the service of the wheel by means of a check-valve 2S ot' any suitable or preferred construction. This chcclcvalve is arranged or hung to open inwardly into the tubular rim-section, so that when the rim-scction is immersed in the water the valve 2S will open to permit of the inflow of water to the section 19, and the water thus admitted to the rim-section is confined therein against escape through the port 27 in the rotation ol' the wheel by means of the valve 28, which is closed by the internal pressure of the water. The water confined in the tubular rim-section is free to pass through the nipple 22 and past the check-valve 2G into the tubular spoke, from whence the water flows into the hollow wheel-shaft, to be discharged from the latter to an outlet-pipe, to be hereinafter described.

lVhen the wateris discharged from the hollow rim-section into the spoke and thence to the wheel-shaft, air accuniulates in the nipple 22 and rim-section, and it is desirable to permit this air to escape on the ingress of water to the rimsection. l attain this end by the employment of a vent-pipe 2U, which is arranged within the plane ot' the rim-section, and one end of this air-vent pipe is suitably attached to the rim-nipple 22,while its other end is bent to form an elbow 30, which ex tends inwardly toward the wheel-shaft a suitable distance. rlhis air-vent pipe is held in position by its attachment to the nipple and by means of a brace 31, which is secured to the rim-.section and engages with the pipe 2l). By arranging the air-vent pipe to extend in advance of the rim-nipple to which it is con` nected and giving` an elbow shape to the open end of the pipe 2) the necessity for a cheekvalve therein is obviated and the water is prevented from flowing through the pipe during the rotation of the wheel and the discharge of the water from the rim-section to the tubular spoke.

In order to impart the necessary rotation to the current-wheel bythe action of the swiftly-moving current thereon, l employ a series of paddles 32, which are securely clamped between the flanged ends of adjacent rim-sections. Each paddle is of large size to enable the current to properly act against the same, and said paddle is arranged radially to the wheel-shaft. The paddle is interposed between the adjacent flanged ends of a pair of rim-sections, and the bolts which unite the rim-sections together pass through the paddles, whereby the paddles are clamped or held firmly in place between the rim-sections, and they serve to eut off communication from one rim-section to the other.

The water delivered to the tubular wheelshaft is discharged through an outlet-pipe 33, which is operatively coupled to the tubular shaft, so as to receive the water from the shaft and to discharge the same in any suitable way. This outlet-pipe 33 is arranged alongside of a part of the wheel-frame, to which it is attached by a suitable brace lll. The lower end of this pipe 33 is connected IOO IIO

with a coupling 35, which is screwed to a gland 3G, that is connected to one of the tubular trunnions or journals l2 of the wheelshaft, and one end of the wheel-shaft is thus connected by the coupling to the outlet-pipe. The journal of the wheelshaft is free to rotate in the coupling-gland, and the parts constitute a water-tight rotary joint between the rotating wheel-shaft and the stationary delivery pipe. The hollow journal at the other end of the wheel-shaft is closed in a suitable way, or, if desired, a similar outletpipe and water-tight joint may be combined with said journal to discharge water from both ends ot' the wheel-shaft. I may also couple the discharge or outlet pipe to the wheel-shaft by means of a coupling` which will permit the outlet-pipe to be raised or lowered.

In the operation of the structure the current-wheel is lowered to submerge the lower paddles and rim-sections in the swiftlymoving currentof water, and the impact of the current against the paddles imparts the desired rotary motion to the wheel. As each rim -section is submerged in the water its check-valve 28 opens inwardly to expose the port 27 and thus permit water to accumulate in the hollow rim-section. The admission of water to the rim-section displaces the air therein, which finds its vent through the pipe 29, and as the wheel rotates therim-section, lilled with water, is carried upwardly, so that the water iiows from the rim-section through the nipple 22 and the spoke into the tubular wheel-shaft. During the elevation of the rimsection the valve 28 closes and prevents the escape of water through the port 27, and as the spoke and rim-section again approach the water in the continued rotation of the wheel the check-valve 26 in the spoke is closed by the pressure of any water which may be contained therein, thus wholly overcoming back pressure and the escape of the water either from the rim-section or the tubular spoke. As each rim-section and spoke discharges water successively to the wheel-shaft during the rotation of the wheel, the water is continuously supplied to the shaft and the valves overcome back pressure and escape of water. The wheel-shaft delivers the water through the hollow trunnion or journal to the outletpipe and the Water is discharged practically in a continuous stream therefrom.

I do not strictly confine myself to the particular means for suspending the water-wheel nor for adjusting the latter vertically between the banks of a stream, as these devices may be modified by a mechanic or engineer within wide limits and Without involving a departure .from the invention, which resides in the water-wheel having its parts constructed and arranged for service in the manner and for the purposes set forth. v

I am aware that changes in the form and proportion of parts and in the details of construction may be made by a skilled mechanic Ywithout departing from the spirit or sacrificing the advantages of the invention, and I therefore reserve the right to make such modifications as clearly fall within the scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is- 1. A current-wheel consisting of a hollow shaft, a series of valved hollow spokes, and a series of valved rim-sections which are cut olf from communication one from the other and which communicate separately with the hollow spokes, substantially as described.

2. A current wheel comprising a hollow shaft, a series of hollow valved spokes communicatin g therewith, a series of rim-sections communicating separately with said spokes and each rim-section provided with a waterinlet, and paddles clamped between the rim* sections and cutting off communication from one rim-section to the other, substantially as described.

3. A current-wheel consisting of a tubular shaft, a series of hollow valved spokes communicatin g therewith, a series of rim-sections connected separately with the spokes and each having a water-inlet, the paddles, and air-vents communicating with the rim-sections at the end thereof opposite to the end having the water-inlet, substantially as described.

4. A current-wheel consisting of a tubular shaft, a series of hollow spokes provided with the checkvalves,the hollow rim-sections com municating with said spokes and each having a water-inlet, the paddles clamped ben tween the rim-sections, and air-vent pipes communicating with the spokes between the check-valves therein and the rim sections, substantially as described.

5. A current-wheel consisting of a tubular shaft, a series of hollow spokes provided with checkevalves, a series of hollow rim-sections each united at one end to one spoke and provided near its opposite end with a valved Water-inlet, a series of paddles clamped between lthe meeting ends of adjacent rim-sections,

and an outlet-pipe operatively connected with the wheel-shaft, substantially as described.

6. In a currentwheel,a series of hollow rim* sections each provided near one end with a valve-controlled water-ingress port and near its opposite end with a valved nipple, and a series of paddles clamped between the meet ing ends of adjacent rim-sections, in combination with a tubular shaft, a series of hollow spokes united to said shaft and the valved nipples of the rim-sections, and a dischargepipe operatively coupled with the Wheelshaft, substantially as described.

'7. A current-Wheel consisting of a suitable carrying-frame provided with journal-bear ings, a tubular Wheel-shaft having a hollow trunnion or journal, a series of hollow valved spokes communicating with said shaft, a sed IOO IIO

IZO

ries of hollow Valved rim-sections communieating separately with the spokes, a series of paddles clamped between Ihe rim-sections, a discharge-pipe supported on the frame, and :L coupling united to said pipe and the tubular journal of said shaft, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto a'fllxed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

THEODORE JAMES VANO/E.

Iitnessesz J. M. WILLIAMS, FRANK C. ROBERTSON. 

